Nature in Florida - The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

The Tiger Swallowtail butterfly isn’t seen around as much as the Monarchs and Sulphers so I was really excited when I saw this one on my Lantana bush. It was hard getting the pictures because butterflies don’t stay still very long especially this one, but we did it (Craig took one of them too).

It was such a bright day that the yellow color shows as white but he is yellow and black-just like a Tiger.

According to Florida Butterfly Gardening by Marc C. & Maria Minno, host plants are trees in the Olive, Magnolia, and Rose families and they inhabit swamps, flatwoods, and hammocks.

My opinion - invest in a Lantana plant or two if you really want to attract Butterflies; they all love them.

Tony, love your garden photos. You must have a beautiful garden to get all these wonderful photos....no butterflies in my garden....it is a courtyard and I've just started getting hummers....making new hummy food today. Thanks for sharing your butterflies. They are beautiful!

Hi Toni -- Beautiful photos! Lantanas must be tropical, I never see them here in NC. We have butterfly bushes but they are in bloom for only a short time. As I recall the lantanas bloom for months, which must make the butterflies very happy indeed.

Toni, the photos and the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, sure are both mighty fine looking. You sure are right about Butterflies liking a Lantana Plant or two in the garden. They also like having a few flat rocks near the plants in the garden to rest on.

I think its picture perfect just the way it is. I can just imagine how enthralled you both were while the butterfly was fluttering around the garden. I don't know about you, but butterflies have always caused my heart to flutter!

Butterflies have certain colors and flowers they gravitate towards, so it doesn't surprise me at all that his color was deeper yellow, as you described. Those Lantanas drew him in and you were there to capture the spectacular moment.

Timing is everything. You're right, it's not easy to get those wings opened up for the picture. It takes patience and your patience paid off. Because of you, I was able to take pleasure in the butterfly that landed on your lantana bush that was planted in your enchanted gardens.

Toni--Thanks for sharing your knowledge of butterflies as well as these photos. And plants, too. The flowers on the Latana plant are beautiful, too. At this time of year our butterflies and birds are heading south, but I have never seen a Tiger Swallowtail here.

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